Red Wings' invincibility is gone, but there's no panic or uncertainty within the team

AP File PhotoCoach Mike Babcock isn't going anywhere, and Detroit remains a playoff contender, if not one of the best teams in the Western Conference.DENVER -- The Detroit Red Wings are off to their worst start in 20
years, and with three games in Western Canada this week, it could get
worse before it gets better.

But it’s too soon to panic.

This was
destined to be a transition year, with nine players currently on the
roster who were not with the team at the start of last season. But it’s
not a throwaway year.

This team should be better than 3-4-2, and it
will be better. At worst, this is a playoff team. At best, it still can
contend for the top spot in the Western Conference.

If you grew
tired of tedious mid-season games against Columbus and Nashville,
you’re in for a treat. Because this year, every game matters. Every win
grinded out and every point frittered away could end up being the
difference in April.

The Red Wings usually find ways to win their
share of games in which they are not playing well. This season, they’re
finding ways to lose games they should win.

They have blown two-goal
leads in three games. They have surrendered the tying goal in the final
three minutes of regulation in two of the past three games, losing one
in a shootout, the other in overtime.

They have been outscored
11-6 in the third period, typically their strongest period because of
their superior depth, conditioning and ability to close out games.

“As
a team, we have to continue to do what we’re doing,” forward Todd
Bertuzzi said after Saturday’s 3-1 loss in Colorado. “We’re doing a lot
of really good things, getting the puck to the net, getting a lot of
really good chances. Puck luck right now is just not in our favor.

“You
can sit here and get frustrated and (ticked) off. At the same time, you
have to look on the bright side. Eventually it has to go in.”

Their
production was expected to drop, but not like this. Only one player has
more than two goals (Tomas Holmstrom with five). Henrik Zetterberg
leads the team with nine points, but he and Pavel Datsyuk have combined
for only one goal.

Their third-pair defensemen (Jonathan Ericsson and Brett Lebda/Derek Meech) are a combined minus-12.

Backup
goaltender Jimmy Howard played much better in his second start Saturday
than in his first, but it is unrealistic to expect him to match what Ty
Conklin did last season.Penalty-killing has not improved appreciably.

So their problems are plentiful. But many also are correctable with the players they have.

Don’t
expect any quick fixes. They have some salary-cap space because of
Johan Franzen’s knee injury. Maybe they will acquire a goal-scoring
winger, not that there are a lot of teams looking to unload such a
player for what the Red Wings would be willing to relinquish.

They
will not display a knee-jerk reaction to a slow start. They are not
likely to part with any promising prospects or high draft picks to
patch a leak. Nor should they.

The Red Wings’ biggest issue could be
mental and/or physical fatigue after three years of long playoff runs
followed by short summers. It is not uncommon for teams that lose in
the finals to falter the following season.

The Stanley Cup champion
Pittsburgh Penguins were in danger of missing the playoffs before
making a coaching change, replacing Michel Therrien with Grand Haven’s
Dan Bylsma on Feb. 15.

Red Wings coach Mike Babcock is not going
anywhere, regardless of what unfolds this season. Players often tune
out a coach after a few years, especially one as hard-driving and
abrasive as Babcock. But it is way too early to make that assertion.

The aura of invincibility has vanished. Opponents no longer are intimidated by the Red Wings’ skill.

But
there is no sense of panic or uncertainty in the dressing room. Players
and Babcock are confident in their ability. They are encouraged by
their play in four games since their lone woeful performance, a 6-2
loss in Buffalo on Oct. 13.

“I don’t think we’re that far off,”
Babcock said. “Our team has done a pretty good job of late, and yet we
find a way not to get two points each night. So we’ve got to assess
that and keep getting better.”

Several players echoed those sentiments.

“Just stick with it,” Brad Stuart said. “For the most part just continue to do what we’ve been doing.”

Said Dan Cleary: “We have to stay upbeat, stay with the program. We’re not getting frustrated. It’s disappointing, for sure.”

The Red Wings visit Vancouver on Tuesday, Edmonton on Thursday and Calgary on Saturday.

“We
can’t sit here and feel sorry for ourselves,” Bertuzzi said. “We got a
long trip still to go. We have to gather our composure here and still
get some points.”

If you’re due for a down year, this is the year to
have it. Parity in the Western Conference has faded the line between
elite clubs and also-rans. Colorado, Phoenix, Columbus and Los Angeles
are off to fast starts. But don’t expect any teams to break away from
the pack.

The Red Wings are a modest winning streak away from
shooting up the standings. And surely this club has a few of those runs
in it.

It is premature to jump to any conclusions, except that the ride will not be as smooth or predictable as it once was.

But the Red Wings are too talented and too experienced at winning for their struggles to continue long-term.